Device for orienting springs

ABSTRACT

The device for aligning springs ( 7 ) on transport from a spring winding machine to a spring interior assembly automatic machine comprises at least one rotary plate pair ( 17 ) which rotates about a rotary axle (B) and is drivably mounted about a rotary axle (A). From a take-over location (X) the springs ( 7 ) are individually taken over by a gripper hand ( 5 ) of a transport star ( 1 ) and, slightly pressed together, are inserted between two rotary plates ( 17 ). The springs ( 7 ) are aligned by the rotary plates ( 17 ) so that at the transfer location (Y) they have the desired rotary angle end position and may be inserted by at least one transfer finger ( 27 ) between the belt faces ( 13 ) of two transport belts ( 13 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject-matter of the invention is a device for aligning springsduring transport of the springs from a spring winding machine to aspring interior assembly automatic machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the known automatic manufacture of spring interior mattresses,springs manufactured on a spring winding machine are taken off by atransport star with several arms, if desired knotted at the ends andadditionally subjected to a heat treatment. At the ends of the armsthere are arranged gripper hands which remove the springs from thespring winding machine and hold these rigidly during transport. Thesprings are transferred from the transport star to a transport belt pairand are introduced by this transport belt pair into a spring interiorassembly automatic machine. In the spring interior assembly automaticmachine the springs are finally connected to one another with spiralwires to be joined together into a spring interior of a predeterminablesize. The springs manufactured on the spring winding machine, withoutadditional measures adjusting the springs, reach the transport belt andthus the spring interior assembly automatic machine aligned more or lessequally, i.e. the ends of the wires in the region of the end rings liein each case more or less at the same location. Furthermore, this meansthat, for example, the last springs of a row are aligned outwardly andthus penetrate through the mattress material. In order to prevent this,usually the last spring is rotated by 180 about its own axis so that thefree ends or the two knots of the ends or knots of the last springs arealigned towards the second to last spring. It is, however, oftendesirable to arrange the springs in pairs with the knots or spring wireends lying opposite one another. There are already known various devicesfor this purpose, i.e. the alternate alignment of the knots. From DE-A119542847 with a spring led from the rotary star from a spring windingdevice, it is known within the transport belt to rotate this springabout its own axis with a suitably designed displacer, until the knotshave reached the desired angular position. The displacement is effectedby a displacing device which is designed in a manner such that one mayonly roughly achieve the alignment of the knot which is set once.Another desired alignment may only be effected by exchange of thedisplacer of the displacing device.

The object of the present invention then lies in providing a device foraligning springs or their end knots or generally the end regions to apredeterminable angular position which may be changed at any time.

This object is achieved by a device with the features of the patentclaim 1. Advantageous formations are defined in the dependent claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The freely selectable rotational angle end position of the rotary plateduring its rotational movement from a take-over location to a transferlocation permits the knots and/or ends of the spring wire to be broughtinto a desired position on the transport belt. Any end positions as aresult are possible from spring to spring. With the use of severalrotary plates on a rotary disk or likewise which accommodate the rotaryplates, the cadence of the aligned springs is considerably increased.Furthermore, by way of the application of several rotary plates theirrotational speed on alignment is reduced and thus a sliding of thesprings tensioned between the rotary plate pairs on the surfaces of therotary plates is prevented. In a preferred formation of the invention,when using several rotary plates the later are driven synchronously andwithout slip by a single toothed belt or chain overdrive. The drive ofthe toothed belt is effected from the rotational center of the rotarydisk. The latter is preferably likewise driven by a servo drive and insteps is led from the take-over position to the transfer position. Theintroduction of the springs from the transport star or out of theirgripper hands into the rotary plate pair and out of the latter iseffected in a conventional manner by the linearly driven displacers orby grippers on a pivot axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in more detail by way of illustratedembodiment examples.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a rotary star and a transportbelt with individual rotary plates arranged therebetween mounted on acrank arm,

FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1, but a device with two rotary plates,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through the rotary disk with threerotary plates as well as the insertion and ejection device,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rotary disk in FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a view of the rotary disk with a belt drive of the rotaryplates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In FIG. 1 there is schematically shown a rotary star 1 with six gripperarms 3 and mechanically or electrically drivable gripper hands 5 attheir ends. With the gripper hands 5, whose design is the state of theart, the springs 7 are gripped and held, these springs having beenpreviously wound on a spring winding device 9. Their ends may be knottedin a knotting device 11. Additionally to the knotting device 11 on thetransport path which the springs 7 run through in the gripper hands 5,there may be arranged a heat treatment station (not shown). At alocation indicated at X (the take-over location) the springs 7 areremoved from the gripper hand 5. At a transfer location Y the springs 7are transferred to a transport belt pair 13. Between the springtake-over location X and the spring transfer location Y on a rotary axleB there is fastened a crank arm 15 which may be driven by a servo-motorM_(B). On the distal end of the crank arm 15 there is arranged anaxially distanced rotary plate pair 17 which may be driven by a furtherservo-motor.

In FIG. 2 the conditions are the same as in FIG. 1, with the exceptionthat on the rotary axle B there are rotatably fastened two crank arms 15on whose ends there are again arranged two rotary plate pairs 17. Thedrives of the arm or arms 15 as well as the rotary plates 17 rotatablymounted thereon are described in more detail by way of the particularlyfavorable formation of the invention with three rotary plate pairs 17represented in FIG. 5. For the purpose of increasing the cadence, i.e.the springs 7 to be aligned per minute, in this formation of theinvention in each case three rotary plates 17 are arranged in eachrotary disk 19. The rotary disks 17 in turn are drivably mounted aboutthe rotation center B. The rotary plates 17 rotate in the recesses 29envisaged for this in the rotary disks 19 about the rotary axes A. Thetwo oppositely lying rotary disks of the rotary disk pairs 19 aredrivably mounted on the axle B and their oppositely lying surfaces aswell as the surfaces of the rotary plates 17 rotatably mounted in therotary disks 19 lie in the common plane E. The distance e between thetwo planes E formed by the rotary disks 19 and rotary plates 17 issmaller than the nominal height of a relieved spring 7. By way ofpressing together the spring, at the latest, shortly before insertion ofthe latter at the take-over location X by the gripper hand 5 between therotary plates 17 the spring on account of its intrinsic tension forceduring transport to the transfer location Y is held by way of thefriction fit of the end rings with the surface of the rotary plates 17.The compression of the springs 7 at the take-over location X may, forexample, be effected between two tapering plates 25. The removal of thesprings 7 from the gripper hand 5 and the introduction of the springs 7between the rotary plates 17 may be effected by a displacer 21 withsuitably designed displacing fingers 23. Analogously, insertion transferfingers 27 are formed at the transfer location Y, which are howeverindividually driven synchronously or are held and mounted on a commonplate 28 as with the displacing fingers 23.

The rotary plates 17 rotatably mounted in the tight-tolerance, circularrecesses 29 in the two rotary disks 19 are in each case partly embracedby a double-sided toothed belt 31. Furthermore, each of the two toothedbelts 31 embraces a drive belt wheel 33 which is seated on the driveaxle B of the rotary disk 19 and which may be driven by a servo-motorM_(A). The rotary disk 19 is likewise drivable by a servo-motor M_(B),and specifically independently of the drive of the rotary plates 17(FIG. 5). The two drive shafts for the rotary disks 19 and the drivebelt wheels are arranged coaxially.

In the following, the manner of functioning of the device is explainedin more detail. With the rotary star 1, individual springs 7 from below(arrow P) held by the gripper hand 5 are introduced between thetensioning and introduction plates 25 and at the same time are pressedaxially together. The spring 7 with the displacer 21 or its advancefingers 23 is taken out of the gripper hand 5 (not shown in FIG. 3) andis inserted between the rotary disks 19 arranged opposite one another inpairs, and subsequently the rotary plates 17 arranged therein, andthereupon positioned concentrically to the rotary axle A of the rotaryplates 17. Simultaneously, the removal finger 27 displaces a spring 7located at the spring transfer location Y out of the rotary plate pair17 which has reached this position, between the inner belt faces 13′lying opposite one another, of the transport belts 13 (right side inFIG. 3). The deflection rollers 35 of the two transport belts 13 aremounted on axes C which lie slightly outside the periphery of the rotarydisk 19. After transferring a spring 7 out of the gripper hand 5 intothe adjacently lying rotary plate 17 and after the synchronousleading-out of an aligned spring 7 from the rotary plate 17 lyingneighboring the transport belt pair there is effected a rotation of therotary disk 19 by 120° so that the spring 7 which have just beentransferred from the gripper hand 5 to the rotary plates 17 is guideddownwards and that previously located below now lies opposite thetransport belts 13. Now an empty rotary plate pair 17 which has justtransferred its spring to the transport belt pair 13 lies adjacent tothe subsequent gripper hand 5 with a new spring 7. During the rotationalmovement of the rotary disk 19 twice by 120° all rotary plates 17 aresynchronously guided into the desired rotary angle end position at thetransfer location Y since they are connected by the toothed belt 31 anddriven by the servo-motor M_(A). In the illustration according to FIG.3, the adjacent flat locations 37 at the end rings of the spring 7 lieabove and below, wherein alternately the narrower flat location 37 liesabove and the wider lies below and vice versa. By way of a suitableactivation of the drive servo-motor M_(A) of the rotary plates 17 thenarrow flat location may also be aligned to the left or right accordingto the set demands within the spring interior automatic machine (notshown).

For an improved overview the knots or wire ends of the end rings havenot been shown in the figures, but flat locations of differing widthsand their rotational position with respect to the horizontal in thefigures.

1. A device for aligning the knots at the end rings of springs with thetransport of springs from a spring winding machine to a spring interiorassembly automatic machine, said device comprising: a transport starhaving gripper hands for taking the springs at a winding station of thespring winding machine; a pair of transport belts for the furthertransport of aligned springs to the spring interior assembly automaticmachine; and a transfer apparatus for transferring the springs from thetransport star to the transport belts, characterized in that thetransfer apparatus comprises at least one drivable pair of spaced rotaryplates for rotating one of the springs therebetween.
 2. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the rotary plate pair is drivable by a servo-motor andthat a spring held clamped between the rotary plate pair may betransferred to the transport belts at any selectable rotary angle endposition.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the rotary plates aresynchronously rotatably mounted in circular recesses in two rotary diskslying opposite one another, and are driven by a drive motor.
 4. Thedevice of claim 3 wherein the rotary plates mounted in the rotary disksmay be driven by the servo-motor via a common toothed belt.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein the springs are movable by an apparatus out ofone of the gripper hands on the rotary star into a position between arotary plate pair and may be transferred by at least one transfer memberout of the rotary plate pair to a position between the two revolvingtransport belts.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the springs areaxially compressed between the rotary plates.
 7. A device for aligningthe knots at the end rings of springs with the transport of springs froma spring winding machine to a spring interior assembly automaticmachine, said device comprising: a transport star having several gripperarms for moving springs between select locations, each of said gripperarms having a gripper hand for holding a spring; one of said selectlocations being a take-over location for removing a spring from agripper hand; a pair of transport belts for the further transport ofaligned springs to the assembly automatic machine; and a transferapparatus for transferring the springs from the transport star to thetransport belts, characterized in that the transfer apparatus comprisesat least one drivable pair of spaced rotary plates synchronously drivento selectively orient the knots of the spring therebetween.
 8. A devicefor aligning the knots at the end rings of springs with the transport ofsprings from a spring winding machine to a spring interior assemblyautomatic machine, said device comprising: a transport star havingseveral gripper arms for moving springs between select locations, eachof said gripper arms having a gripper hand for holding a spring; one ofsaid select locations being a take-over location for removing a springfrom a gripper hand; and a transfer apparatus for transferring thespring from one of the gripper hands of the transport star to a positionbetween a pair of rotary plates for changing the orientation of thespring; and an apparatus for moving the spring between the rotary platesto a position between a pair of transport belts for the furthertransport of aligned springs to the assembly automatic machine.
 9. Thedevice of claim 8 further comprising means for rotating the rotaryplates to change the orientation of the spring.
 10. The device of claim8 further comprising a heat treating station at one of said selectlocations.
 11. The device of claim 8 further comprising a knottingdevice at one of said select locations.
 12. The device of claim 8further comprising a pair of synchronously driven rotary disks having acommon axis and driven by a servo-motor, the rotary plates being mountedin the rotary disks.
 13. A device for aligning the knots at the endrings of springs with the transport of springs from a spring windingmachine to a spring interior assembly automatic machine, said devicecomprising: a transport star having several gripper arms for movingsprings between select locations, each of said gripper arms having agripper hand for holding a spring; a transfer apparatus for transferringthe spring from one of the gripper hands of the transport star to aposition between a pair of synchronously driven rotary plates forchanging the orientation of the spring; and an apparatus for moving thespring between the rotary plates to a position between a pair oftransport belts for further transport of the spring to the assemblyautomatic machine.
 14. A device for aligning the knots at the end ringsof springs with the transport of springs from a spring winding machineto a spring interior assembly automatic machine, said device comprising:a transport star having several gripper arms for moving springs betweenselect locations, each of said gripper arms having a gripper hand forholding a spring; a pair of spaced-apart transport members, each of thetransport members having at least one recess therein; rotary disksrotatably mounted in the recesses of the transport members for changingthe orientation of a spring compressed therebetween; and an apparatusfor removing the spring compressed between the rotary disks to aposition between a pair of transport belts for further transport of thespring to the assembly automatic machine.
 15. The device of claim 14wherein the transport members rotate about an axis.
 16. The device ofclaim 14 wherein each of the transport members has three recesses.
 17. Amethod of transporting springs from a spring winding machine to a springinterior assembly automatic machine, said method comprising: providing atransport star having gripper hands; taking one of the springs at awinding station of the spring winding machine with one of the gripperhands; transferring the spring from the gripper hand of the transportstar to a position between a pair of spaced rotary plates; rotating thespaced rotary plates to rotate the spring therebetween to position theknots at the end rings of springs in a desired position; transportingthe spring to a position between a pair of transport belts; andtransporting the spring to the spring interior assembly automaticmachine.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the spaced rotary plates aredriven synchronously.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the spacedrotary plates are driven by a belt.
 20. The method of claim 17 whereinthe spaced rotary plates are driven by a servo-motor.
 21. A method oftransporting springs from a spring winding machine to a spring interiorassembly automatic machine, said method comprising: providing atransport star having gripper hands; taking one of the springs at awinding station of the spring winding machine with one of the gripperhands; removing the spring from the gripper hand of the transport starat a take-over location; transferring the spring to a spring transferposition between a pair of transport belts using at least one crank arm,said crank arm having a pair of spaced rotary plates; rotating thespaced rotary plates to rotate the spring therebetween to position knotsat the end rings of springs in a desired position; and transporting thespring to the spring interior assembly automatic machine.
 22. The methodof claim 21 wherein the spaced rotary plates are driven synchronously.23. The method of claim 21 wherein the spaced rotary plates are drivenby a belt.
 24. The method of claim 21 wherein the spaced rotary platesare driven by a servo-motor.
 25. A method of transporting springs from aspring winding machine to a spring interior assembly automatic machine,said method comprising: providing a transport star having gripper hands;taking one of the springs at a winding station of the spring windingmachine with one of the gripper hands; removing the spring from thegripper hand of the transport star at a take-over location; transferringthe spring to a spring transfer position having a pair of spaced rotaryplates; rotating the spaced rotary plates to rotate the springtherebetween to position knots at the end rings of springs in a desiredposition; and further transporting the spring to the spring interiorassembly automatic machine.